Local Foods for Schools Subgrants
In October 2022, TDA entered into a cooperative agreement with the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of USDA for the purchase of Texas products to be used in schools. Purchases of unprocessed or minimally processed foods will focus on historically underutilized agricultural producers and small businesses to strengthen local and regional food systems in Texas. The total grant award is
$22.3 million.
TDA submitted a request to AMS to subgrant all funds directly to National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) providers. The request was approved in August and applications for funds opened in September.
Funds are awarded in increments of $30,000, $60,000, $100,000 and $250,000, depending on enrollment. School nutrition programs will receive the funding through reimbursements based on invoices submitted to TDA documenting the historically underserved producers and/or small businesses from which they purchased foods.